Mainstreaming Biotechnology in African Agriculture

Kiambu,

Saturday, November 4, 2023

KNA by Wangari Ndirangu

Awareness creation amongst the general public on the importance of agricultural biotechnology has been cited as key in contributing to economic empowerment, food security, and health in Africa.

Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Manager at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) Vitumbiko Chinoko said instead of defending science, emphasis should be on highlighting the benefits of technology. 

Speaking during a plenary session at Africa Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT 2023) held in Nairobi, Vitumbiko said Africa can develop its own biotech crops with increased national investment in biotechnology.

Prof Richard Oduor, Molecular Biologist and Registrar Research Kenyatta University said that mainstreaming Biotechnology in Africa will require national governments to invest in research, at least one percent of GDP as well as enhancing capacity building in new innovations that include gene editing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, precision Agriculture and remote sensing.

He added that supporting countries that do not have a regulatory framework to do so in order to support adoption of new technologies is also key while active knowledge creation through objective messaging that unlocks conventional beliefs is also important. 

Oduor who is also chair Kenya University Biotechnology Consortium (KUBICO) told KNA, “there is a need to establish modern infrastructure that would support cutting edge research that is proprietary, solid government goodwill and also employing data, precision agriculture and digitalization of Agriculture through the entire value chain.”

Prof Abdullahi Mustapha, Director General and CEO, National Biotechnology Development Agency NABDA in Nigeria said governments should be more receptive to biotech and create an enabling platform to attract the private sector because as long as the private sector sees an opportunity to make returns from their investment, they will support biotechnology.

Dr Titus Alicai, Director of Research and Postgraduate Studies, National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Uganda said that there is need to develop infrastructure for practice for the scientists because when they are trained and not engaged locally, they migrate to countries where they can get better opportunities.

Patience Koku, CEO, Replenish Farms in Nigeria said channels that are already established like the seed companies should be used as a pathway to ensure biotechnology and its products get down to the smallholder farmers because the farmers will always want the right product.

The week-long African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT) was officially opened by Agriculture and Livestock Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi who represented President William Ruto. 

In his speech President Ruto said that innovations and adoption of new technologies are essential for offering Africa resilience and global competitiveness.

The conference was running under the theme “Agricultural Resilience through Innovations”.

Courtesy; KNA